Bone Breaker Gym provides classes for all

“We exist because we want to help improve people's lives. Let us help you have fun by working out.”

That’s the mission statement of Bone Breaker Gym. Since opening in 2011, the gym located at 728 East Union Street in Morganton has provided a place for individuals of all ages and skill levels to work out, take part in various fighting disciplines and gain confidence.

Bone Breaker is owned by Albert Becerra, who has been a law enforcement officer for nearly two decades. Due to the growing demands of his job, his brother Jessy Becerra is now handling the day-to-day operations for his older sibling.

“I work with kids all the way to senior citizens,” said Jessy Becerra, who noted that Bone Breaker offers a number of classes, including cardio training, kickboxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), wrestling, boxing, and more. Self-defense classes are also available, as are programs for children with special needs, senior citizens, and those with Parkinson’s disease. There is no cost to attend a group class for the first time.

There are open gym times available at Bone Breaker as well, with waivers being required for those who attend. In addition to a boxing ring, the facility also contains an MMA octagon, a wrestling mat, punching bags, stationary bikes, a treadmill, a weight bench and more.

Jessy Becerra and his brother are originally from California, where he says they lived in a rough neighborhood. Consequently, helping children stay out of trouble by getting involved in classes at the gym is important. 

“We come from a program down there (in California) … where these people worked with not just kids who get in trouble, but kids with special needs as well, and we kept that in our head,” said Jessy Becerra. “So when he (Albert Becerra) decided to go into law enforcement, I decided to stay here just because of the fact that I know I’m not here to change lives, but we’re here to help not just people with special needs but anybody.”

According to Becerra, “60% of our members here are ladies,” with self-defense classes being popular among women. He said that one-hour self-defense sessions include 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of kickboxing that focus on “the fundamentals, the basics, nothing too major.”

One-on-one personal training sessions are also offered, and Becerra himself is one of the instructors available for those. 

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) competitors Tony Soto and Jeremie Holloway are among the regulars at Bone Breaker. Both will fight at BKFC 52 on Oct. 20 in South Carolina. 

Former Freedom High football star B.J. Emmons stopped by Bone Breaker recently as well, as did current Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley, who played at Maiden High. Both spent time talking to children.

“It’s great for our gym” to have such notable individuals make appearances, said Becerra. “Having those names in here is great, not just for the gym but for the whole community.”

Becerra said that the gym is “here for Morganton, Hickory, anybody,” adding that “there’s kids coming in all the way from Lenoir and Hendersonville.”

He stressed that Bone Breaker is “a family business.” His wife and daughter, among others, help out on a regular basis.

“This gym is for everyone,” said Becerra. “It doesn’t matter the size, it doesn’t matter the age, it doesn’t matter what the situation is. It’s for everybody.”

For more information about Bone Breaker Gym, including hours of operation, classes offered and prices, visit the gym’s Facebook page, call 828-509-6108 or send an email to bonebreakergym@outlook.com.

Josh McKinney can be reached at 828-445-8595 or josh@thepaper.media.